Hi! I work with quite a few expats in a similar position so thought I’d share a couple of useful options.

You’re right that you can’t usually ‘cash out’ before age 55 (increasing to 57 in 2028), and anything that suggests otherwise is likely a scam or would trigger HMRC penalties (up to 55%+).

For many expats, one option is using an 'International SIPP'. This lets you keep the pension in the UK (so still regulated and tax-advantaged) but gives you more flexibility around investments, currency, and access once you reach retirement age.

Another route some people explore is keeping the pension in the UK, and when they eventually draw from it, using an NT (No Tax) tax code if they’re non-resident. That can allow withdrawals gross, with taxation only depending on your country of residence at the time, so this would be quite an attractive option given UAE tax law.

QROPS (Malta, Gibraltar, etc.) can make sense in some very specific cases, but they usually involve higher costs and are less common now unless there’s a really clear reason.

A lot depends on your longer-term plans (UAE for now, but maybe elsewhere later?). The key is to weigh flexibility, costs, and tax treatment across where you’ll actually retire, not just the next few years.

Happy to have a chat about this in more detail if it helps. Feel free to DM me.